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Ayman Hassan leads a Ramadan prayer at St. Joseph Islamic Center. Friday was the last day of Ramadan and fasting for the Muslim community.

On Friday, the Islamic community in St. Joseph came together to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the monthlong fast of Ramadan.

In Islam, fasting is an act of deep personal worship. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food, drink and sexual contact from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a spiritual journey for the community, which means members also fast from sins.

“We fast from eating, drinking and passion. ... And spiritually, we fast from sins, like the habitual sins that we do on a daily basis, just like any other human beings who do daily sins,” said Imam Ayman Hassan of The Islamic Center of St. Joseph. “For example, it is prohibited to lie, cuss at others and fight others. As human beings, we forget, we do sins on a daily basis that might affect our faith.”During Ramadan, adherents also work to be a better person and strengthen their community by doing good deeds to those who need it.